Tea Thermometer Recommendations

I have tried using a standard meat thermometer and an instant read meat thermometer. Neither of them register much above the 180s, even when the water is boiling, which makes me doubt their accuracy. This might be because I am using them in water and they are not meant for water. I haven’t thought that would make a difference.

So I am planning to buy a tea thermometer but don’t know much about them or which to choose.

Cofftea, which tea kettle did you purchase? The link for the thermometer shows up as both links…just curious. I am trying to find a way to control my temperature now that I am trying teas other than herbal and black.

I purchased a ‘milk frothing thermometre’ (apparently milk needs to be at a specific temperature for optimum frothing) for three dollars at my local grocery store. It doesn’t register boiling very well, but anything below—well, it hasn’t given me a bad pot of tea yet, so I guess it works well enough.

My milk frothing thermometre is IDENTICAL to this (right down to the holder, complete with pen clip), except that instead of showing the temperatures to steep each tea at, it shows the optimum temperature for milk frothing. And for half the price!

I was thinking of getting a milk frothing thermometer myself, since they register temperatures quickly and are reasonably priced. :) However, milk is generally only steamed up to 140F, so some milk frothing thermometers may not register high temperatures very well (as yours doesn’t). But they should work fine for the lower temps!

Well, mine goes UP to boiling (there’s just a little red bar marking where the milk frothing temperature is but otherwise the temperatures are marked up to 220), and since the one pictured is done in the same style, I assume they BOTH should work up to boiling. Mine just doesn’t seem to want to (granted, I haven’t stuck it in there while it was in the ACT of boiling, but I didn’t really want to see how the steam would effect the display; the needle doesn’t seem to want to stray too far past 195 though).

I have one of those fancy electric kettles that you can set to boil to a certain temperature, but I picked up a Bodum dial milk thermometer (has a mark every 5 degrees) for my sister which does the job, bout $5 too :).

I suffer from crosseyedness so that one wouldn’t work for me. It’s gotta be digital or I get a headache trying to read it lol. I like mine cuz it tells you what temp you need and measures it to .01 degree F.

I have the Taylor Thermometer/Timer. It has 7 presets for White, green, oolong, black, puerh, Deelaring and herb. These are set up for you as starting points. You can adjust each one for your needs. You put in pot when it reaches your temp setting it beeps and lights up, than you press steep button the it begins to count down whatever you programmed it to. Great product. I don’t have to carry around two devices, it does both temp and timer for me. Kind of expensive but you get a perfect cup each time.

Thanks for the tip AmazonV! I just broke down and ordered this one because of you. I love thinkgeek, and I found a $10 off coupon! (code: GEEKPUZZLER)

Tried a meat thermometer today and it seemed ok but then it wouldn’t go above 195 for water that was definitely full boiling :( Tried candy thermometer but it fogged up too much to read, and the increments are not precise enough b/c it goes so much higher than boiling temp. This one costs a bit but it will do what I want so much more easily and accurately (I hope!). And saving myself a steam burn or 3 will be worth the xtra $$!

woot! i love think geek, and i love this thermometer – a few notes – it can read 1 inch squared of surface from 1 inch away, so i usually hold it above my breville electric kettle like 4-6 inches, if i hold it too close it fogs up and says “error!” i have compared it against various other thermometers for testing and it reads right, just need to keep in mind you don’t need to be on top of what your trying to read, i also tend to measure my teapot itself too to make sure i’ve warmed it up and won’t drop the water too fast for the tea :) oh yea and the window, and my fiance, and anything else that will stay still long enough to get pointed at ;)